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Course Outline

CIV330 Engineering Hydrology

Course Coordinator:Stephen Kime (skime@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course equips you with a background in hydrological techniques used by professional engineers, including those codified in Australian Rainfall and Runoff-A Guide to Flood Estimation. You will gain basic skills to carry out the hydrologic analyses and designs that are often encountered in engineering practice. Knowledge of engineering hydrology is required for the design of storm water drainage systems and for the management of flooding. The course will show how design estimates are made by calculation and by modelling.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Background material, videos and quizzes to test understanding 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus workshop 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Seminar – Guest speaker on the concepts of streamflow analyses, rainfall and modelling 1hr Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) 2 times

Course Topics

  • Hydrological processes and data measurement
    • The hydrologic cycle
    • Rainfall, evaporation and infiltration measurement
    • Streamflow measurement
  • Floods and Flood Frequency analysis
    • Runoff generation
    • Statistical tools for hydrological analysis
    • Flood Frequency curves
  • Design rainfalls
    • IFD curves
    • Temporal rainfall patterns
    • Design storm  
  • Estimating peak discharge
    • Rational method
  • Design flow hydrographs 
    • Hydrograph components 
    • Using Flood hydrographs
    • Catchment routing
    • Reservoir routing
  • Rainfall runoff monitoring
    • Loss models 
    • Rainfall-runoff models
    • Modelling applications

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards
1 Reflect on the importance of hydrological design in major engineering projects and develop confidence in design abilities Knowledgeable
Empowered 
1.5
2 Explain how floods are statistically defined and estimate design flood magnitude based on a frequency analysis of historical data Knowledgeable
Sustainability-focussed 
1.3
3 Derive and apply design rainfalls for engineering purposes Knowledgeable
Empowered 
2.2, 2.3
4 Predict discharge hydrographs from catchments and the routing of flood hydrographs along stream channels and within reservoirs Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker 
2.1, 2.2
5 Explain how hydrological computer models are calibrated, validated and applied in design. Knowledgeable
Empowered
Ethical
Engaged 
1.2
6 Calculate peak flow discharges required for engineering design purposes Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker 
2.1, 2.3

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards
1.2 Knowledge and Skill Base: Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline.
1.3 Knowledge and Skill Base: In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
1.5 Knowledge and Skill Base: Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.
2.1 Engineering Application Ability: Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
2.2 Engineering Application Ability: Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
2.3 Engineering Application Ability: Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

ENG102

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

ENG330

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

A formative assessment will provide the opportunity for the students to receive feedback on a weekly online discussion each week from week 1.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Report Individual 35% 
A report written equivalent to 5 x A4 pages including graphs, tables and explanation
 Week 7 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Report Individual 35% 
Will vary depending on the efficiency of methods used.  You will be aiming for the most efficient method.
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Quiz/zes Individual 30% 
2 x online quizzes
 Refer to Format Online Submission
All 4 Activity Participation Individual 0% 
Two to three sentences on the key concepts/learning outcomes each week.
 Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Online Discussion Board
All - Assessment Task 1:Design Flood assignment 35%
Goal: 
Apply the design methodologies discussed in lectures and tutorials to produce a Design Flood to a scenario related to the course material.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
The standard will be that of a professional engineering report with appropriate headings, graphs, tables and explanations.The maximum length is equivalent to 5 x A4 pages.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Flow Duration Curve
 2
2 
Annual Maximum Series
 2
3 
Distribution fitting
 2
4 
Regional Flood Frequency Estimation
 1 3
5 
Flood Frequency Analyses comparisons
 1
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 2:Design Storm assignment 35%
Goal: 
Apply the appropriate techniques to produce a design storm and route through a catchment
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Spreadsheets, code and models used to complete the task
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Correct input data
 3
2 
Correct application of reduction factors and temporal patterns
 3
3 
Correct input and output hydrographs
 4
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 3:Online Quizzes 30% 2 x 15%
Goal: 
The goal of these quizzes is to demonstrate your understanding of various issues relating to the topics presented and answer questions that require analysis of data and interpretation of information.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Submit: Weeks 6 and 13. These quizzes will be computer based and will be a mixture of multiple choice, short answer questions and finding a solution to fully worked problems
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
understand the theoretical and practical components of the course materials
 6
2 
analyse information and solve engineering hydrological problems
 5
3 
apply design methodologies and calculations to specific scenarios in the questions
 1
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 4:Online Discussion Group
Goal: 
Demonstrate your understanding of the key concepts covered each week.
Product: Activity Participation
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
A very brief comment on the week's key concepts through a Canvas Online Discussion.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
An opportunity for student's to demonstrate their comprehension of the key concepts each week and receive peer to peer and lecturer to learner feedback.
 1
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Ball J, Babister M, Nathan R, Weeks W, Weinmann E, Retallick M, Testoni I, (editors) 2019 Australian Rainfall and Runoff: A Guide to Flood Estimation n/a Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)
Recommended Anthony Ladson 2008 Hydrology: An Australian Introduction n/a Oxford University Press

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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